A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews I have received for this story. It helps more than you know. Thanks especially to Catcat85, TheresaG, JayhawkWrites, and the guest who left a review that I couldn't respond to personally, since, with guests, I don't have an option, but thank you so much. Also, thanks for all the Kudos that have been left on AO3.

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Chapter 17 How To Begin Again

After the interview was finished, Blaine walked outside with Kurt needing to hold him, and decompress a little. That had been more emotional than he thought it would be. He stood there just holding Kurt, needing his warmth for a few minutes, needing to feel him next to him, needing to know he was real.

"I am going over to the apartment and let Isabelle's team come and take pictures of everything. When you're done here, will you come to me?" Blaine asked hopeful, but so not wanting to take anything for granted anymore.

"I'll be there as soon as we get everything edited and sent to print. It looks like it might be an all-nighter though," Kurt said, laying his head on Blaine's shoulder.

"I'll wait up for you. I think I might start getting everything in the apartment set up. I'm seriously thinking about keeping it. I was already planning on moving out of my old apartment. I just don't want to be there anymore, you know, maybe start over somewhere else." Blaine said with a half-smile. Wondering how many more times in his life, he'll have to start over.

"I want a more secure life for Sere, hopefully away from all the cameras," Blaine said looking at Kurt

"I can't say I'll mind having you close again. I've missed you so much," Kurt said, reaching up and pulling Blaine's head down kissing him, showing him just how much he had been missed.

"Let's get this done so we can be alone," Blaine said, kissing Kurt one more time, and then holding each other's hand, they go back upstairs to Isabelle's office.

After telling Isabelle and Kurt goodbye, Blaine gets in the car with the camera crew and head over to the apartment. When the elevator door opens into the living area, Blaine hears an intake of breath from the cameraman beside him.

"Wow, " he said softly

"Yeah, it's pretty amazing. One of the first things I noticed was that view," Blaine said, walking over to the windows. Since it was starting to get dark outside, Blaine could see all the lights of New York from that window. He was in love, and in that moment, he knew he was home, that he would be keeping this apartment and selling the one he owned with Bryce in California.

As Kurt said, it definitely wouldn't be a bad thing living close to him again, and this would also be closer to his parents, and with Sere, he knew that would be a good thing. He walked around with the camera crew, explaining how everything was, why the tags were still on everything, and why things had been left in boxes. They took about a hundred pictures, and then they were gone. Blaine went to work setting things up, removing all the tags. When the camera crew was done and had left, Blaine walked outside and hailed a cab and went to the closest store. He bought a few things he knew he would need right away like detergent for the laundry room and dishwasher, wanting to knock some of that out tonight while he was waiting on Kurt. Blaine grabbed a couple of cold bottles of water at the checkout and was on his way back.

When Blaine got back to the apartment, he went into what would now be his bedroom, stopping for a moment to once again look at the view, before pulling the bed linens out of their packaging and then grabbing the towels and washcloths out of the bathroom. He carried everything into the laundry room and put them in the washer, getting the first load started. His next stop was the kitchen. He looked through the different boxes of dishes and pans sitting on the countertops and then opening up all the cabinets to get a rough idea of where he was going to put everything. Going through everything had Blaine feeling just the slightest bit sad that he was the one doing this instead of Bryce, knowing he had looked forward to doing this himself.

The funny thing was that even though they had been so completely separate, had pulled so far apart while Bryce was still alive, each and everything in that kitchen was something Blaine would have picked out for himself. With all the arguing and fighting, they had done, he had almost forgotten just how alike they had been. How much they had, had in common. With a soft smile on his face, Blaine thought of the good times. He finally allowed himself time to think about his friend.

Opening the boxes of dishes, Blaine loaded the dishwasher with the first of who knows how many loads. Making a list of things he knew he would still need, and trying to decide if it would be best to have everything from the California apartment shipped here or buy all new. He was almost leaning towards buying new stuff. That would probably be the easiest thing to do. He did need to look into having his car moved to New York, though. If it were just him, he would sell his car and just use public transportation that was everywhere, but he didn't like the idea of having to wait on a cab if something major happened with Sere, and also most cabs didn't have baby car seats, not that he would trust putting his daughter in one they might have anyway.

While the dishwasher was running, he went into the office. He wanted to turn it into a cross between an office and a spare room. He knew he needed to move the bed that was in Sere's room out, and wondered if it would fit in here. Going into the room that would now be Sere's, Blaine started pulling down the bed, and then carried the frame into the other room and could only smile, it fit perfectly. He moved the rest of the bed in and got it set up, deciding to move the desk that the computer was on against the opposite wall, starting to make it look and feel more like home to him.

When he heard the washer finish, he carried the bedding that went with the spare bed into the laundry room, moving the sheets and towels that were already in the washer into the dryer and starting the next load. He went back into Sere's room, trying to picture in his head how he would set it up. He knew he needed a crib and a changing table, but also might look into getting a rocking chair as well. He didn't have one in her room at home, he had always just used the one in the living room, but after using the one at his mom's, he liked it. He liked sitting in her little room, holding her close and rocking her, loving that baby smell. That thought had him missing her even more. He pulled out his phone and called his mom to check on her for about the hundredth time that day. He could hear the smile in his mom's voice when she answered, and Blaine heard the unmistakable sound of his daughter's giggles that made him smile as always.

"She is doing fine, Blaine, I promise," she said before he had a chance to ask anything.

"I know, I just wanted to call and check," Blaine said, wishing he was already there, once again wondering how he was going to stand to be away from her when he had to go back to London and then on to Paris.

"I just gave her a bath, and your dad is getting her dressed, and then we are going to put her to bed," Pam answered, understanding why he kept calling. With everything going on, with so much uncertainty, he just needed to touch base.

"Ok, call me if anything happens, give her a kiss for me and tell her daddy loves her and misses her ok," Blaine said, wishing again he could be there to do it himself.

"I will. Good night, son, we'll see you tomorrow, and she misses you too," Pam said before hanging up the phone.

While he had been talking, he had been looking around Sere's room and decided he wanted to repaint in here. He liked the soft sand shade that matched the rest of the apartment, but wanted something different for her. He also decided he wanted a different shade than the one in Sere's current bedroom. He knew he wanted and needed a change for himself, and even though Blaine knows right now, Sere won't know the difference he wanted a change for his daughter as well.

When he went back to London, he was hoping to find more pictures of Shey and Sere so he could have them framed and spread across the room. Blaine wanted Sere to know who her mom was. He remembers how Kurt said his dad had placed a picture of his mom in his room right after she had died. Kurt said it always made him feel like she was close, watching over him. Even though Sere will never know her mom, Blaine wanted her to have that as well.

When he had done everything he could, for now, Blaine walked into the living room and sat down at the piano. He didn't understand why Bryce had had the decorator get it because Blaine knew Bryce didn't play. Maybe he had been hoping to learn, or just liked the way it looked. Either way, Blaine was glad it was there. Looking out the window at the New York skyline, Blaine started running his hands over the keys, loving the feel of them under his fingers. He had missed having a piano in his home. It will be nice to have one again. Blaine had always loved playing music. It had always helped calm him when nothing else could. Yes, he had his keyboard, but it just wasn't the same as a piano.

As he started playing around with the keys, looking out the window, a melody started running through his brain and out to the piano keys. Before he even realized it a lyrics shortly followed. Blaine quickly jumped up and ran over to the messenger bag he still carried with him. He pulled out a pencil and spiral notebook he kept in there for this very reason, and he started writing the song down that was running through his head. At that moment, Blaine figured out what he wanted to do with the next stage of his life. He wanted to try his hand at writing music. That was something he could do behind the scenes. He wouldn't have to be in the spotlight. He could still live a normal life.

The notebook in front of him had dozens of songs Blaine had already written and completed, and one that was still only half done. It had been in that same stage for almost a year, and Blaine knew that that one song would stay that way. He had always loved writing down melodies when he was younger. He would be in the middle of something, and either a chorus or a rhythm would pop into his head, and he would have to stop what he was doing to write his idea down. Blaine lost track of how many songs he had written just about Kurt. He should have known something was off between him and Bryce. The whole time they were together either dating or after they were married, Blaine never once got the inspiration to write about him.

The last song he had written in this book was the one he had done right before his and Kurt's last break up. He had been planning on playing that song at their wedding as a surprise for Kurt. That song was the only one in his notebook that had never been completed, and even though they were now back together, Blaine knew it still never would be. That song had been ruined forever for him.

After that, the only song he wrote was the one he had written for Sere. He had been waiting and waiting for her adoption paperwork to go through. He had written a song for her when it finally did, she had become his inspiration, and in all actuality, she had become his life saver. When everything around him was falling apart, she was there, she became his sanity, his reason to get up every morning. He hadn't had that in a very long time.

When he heard the buzzer go off on the dryer, he pulled the bedding and towels out and carried them to his room. He folded the towels and washcloths and then carried them into his bathroom, putting them back on the counter until he could decide where he wanted to put everything permanently. He then walked back into his room, pulled the plastic off of the mattress, and pillows. He put the sheets and pillowcases on the bed and then spread the comforter in place. It was now ready for when Kurt got here. Blaine could only imagine how very tired he was going to be.

Walking back into the laundry room, Blaine put the sheets from the spare bedroom in the dryer and started it up, and then sat back down at the piano. He continued to tweak the song he had written, changing the lyrics here, the melody there until it was a piece he was happy with. Replaying the song again, it hits him whom he had written it about. Once again, a song for Kurt, he thought with a smile. His inspiration was back.

The whole time he had been playing, he had been thinking about Kurt. Their ups and downs, and the trials of their relationship. How far they had come and how much further they still needed to go. He knew they would probably never get back to where they were, but maybe that was a good thing, they could build on what they were now. He was just happy to have Kurt back. The song he had just written was them, about them, he simply called it Until You. He had just finished playing it again when he heard the buzzer by the door. Standing up, he walked over to it.

"Yes?" Blaine answered, pushing the intercom button.

"Mr. Anderson, there's a Kurt Hummel here, he says you're expecting him" The guard downstairs advised him.

"I'm on my way down," Blaine answered, heading for the door and into the elevator. He needs to get a duplicate key for Kurt made he decides as he rides the elevator downstairs. One of the things he liked about the apartment set up was that you could leave the front door open so when the elevator opened, you were looking straight into the apartment, or you could close and lock it, not that that seemed necessary since someone had to have an elevator key to even get to the apartment. When he got to the lobby, Kurt walked up to him. Blaine pulled him into a hug and then holding his hand, he guided him to the elevator. It was 4:30 am, and Kurt looked like he was about to pass out. Not saying a word, still holding his hand, Blaine walked with him to his bedroom.

"Come on, sweetheart, let's go to bed," Blaine said softly before helping Kurt strip down to his boxer briefs, pulling the blankets back for him. Blaine watched as Kurt crawled in, snuggled up with a pillow and was out like a light. Blaine could do nothing but smile, loving just being able to watch Kurt sleep again. Blaine turned off the bedroom light, stripped to his boxers and crawled in behind Kurt, trying not to wake him, as he pulled him close, placing a kiss on the back of his head and before long, Blaine is falling asleep, the happiest he had been in a long time.

Blaine wakes up slowly the next morning, but instantly realizes what had woken him up. While he was sleeping, Kurt had started rubbing his ass back against Blaine. When they had first started living together when Kurt had done that, Blaine would quickly flip him over onto his back, wake him up with kisses, and then they would make love. It had become Blaine's favorite way of being woken up. But not this time, this time, it was pure torture because he couldn't do that anymore. He gently pulled himself away from Kurt, rolled over, and crawled out of bed. Blaine stood there looking down at Kurt, wanting him so desperately, but instead of crawling back in bed with him and doing something he had wanted to since they got back together, he grabbed his toiletry bag out of his suitcase and walked towards the bathroom. He grabs a towel and washcloth off of the counter and walks up to the shower.

Blaine strips off his boxers and steps in, setting the water temperature to the coldest he could stand. He squirts some of his shower gel into his hand and then reaches down and grasps his cock. Blaine slowly starts moving his hand up and down, closing his eyes and wishing it was Kurt's hands on him instead of his own. He missed the touch of another person, Bryce had been the last person to touch him, and that had been so very long ago.

Bryce had stopped any kind of intimacy with Blaine after the first two months of marriage. The only release Blaine had gotten other than by himself was when he had shown up unexpectedly at Bryce's motel when he had been away on a shoot. Blaine had needed him so badly. He had pushed him up against a wall, and when he couldn't get the friction he needed that way, he had carried Bryce to the bed, crawled on top of him, and for fifteen minutes, Blaine had been in heaven. When he had gotten his release before Bryce did, he had felt bad. Blaine had always wanted to take care of his partner. He wanted them to come first before he found his own release, so he had given Bryce a blowjob taking extra care in pleasuring him. Blaine had felt satisfied, so relaxed and happy he was with his husband even if it was for only a few stolen hours.

Their last intimate moment had been ruined for Blaine the minute he read about it in Bryce's journal. He had talked about how Blaine had rubbed into him, how he seemed to really enjoy himself, and how Bryce had just laid there and waited for it to be over, hating every minute of it. Something inside Blaine had died a little that day. He started doubting everything he had ever done in the bedroom. Blaine doubted if he had ever really satisfied Kurt. Had he just laid there, and gone through the motions as well, just waiting for Blaine to finish, just waiting for it to be over? Blaine had decided in that moment that he would take care of his own needs from now on, he wouldn't force his attentions on anyone else. If they needed him, he would take care of them, and then he would take care of his needs on his own. He couldn't survive it if he thought he was disappointing Kurt.

Blaine knows what Kurt said right after Bryce died when he showed him what he had written in the journal. Kurt had told Blaine not to believe it, that he had always satisfied him, that he had wanted to make love with him as well, but no matter what he said, Kurt had pulled away from him too, he had stopped making love to him as well. Kurt would wake up first thing in the morning and be out of bed before Blaine woke up and would come back to bed only after Blaine had gone to sleep. That should have told him something, but Blaine had just kept living in his own little dream bubble.

Standing in the shower, something else hits him. Kurt texting with Chandler. Had he done that because Blaine was so lousy in bed that he was trying to find someone else who was better, someone who would actually satisfy him? Blaine had learned everything he knew from his intimate times with Kurt. He had always loved everything they had done together, but what if Kurt never had? What if he, like Bryce, he had only ever "just lay there and waited for it to be over." That thought hurt.

The words in Bryce's journal had ruined every beautiful memory he had of making love with Kurt. Standing in the shower, all those thoughts running through his mind, Blaine just went soft. He slowly allows himself to slide down the shower wall, sit down, and cry. Blaine wanted just to go in there, hold Kurt in his arms, and make love to him. He had wanted to do that from the moment he had seen Kurt again, but knew he couldn't put himself through that doubt again. Wondering if he was pleasuring Kurt, or was he, like Bryce, just going through the motions.

Blaine slowly stood up, finished showering, and then turned the water off. Grabbing the towel he had hung by the shower, Blaine dried himself off and then wrapped the towel around his hips, and walked back into his room. Kurt was still cuddled up asleep. Blaine just stood there watching him sleep. Shaking his head, Blaine walked over to his suitcase and pulled out the first thing he put his hands on, not really caring and quickly got dressed. He needed to get out of here for a minute. He needed to get away. He felt like he couldn't breathe.

Blaine took the elevator downstairs to the lobby and then walked out the front door. The smells of the city hit him the minute he stepped outside, and he was transported back to a year ago, when everything seemed so incredible, up to the second his world had fallen apart. Blaine just walked without even thinking about where he was going, just needing to walk off this feeling. Before he even realized where he was heading, Blaine had walked to Gino's, their favorite restaurant, or at least the place he had always thought was their favorite restaurant, thinking back to that night when Kurt had asked him why they always had to eat there. This had Blaine once again rethinking every aspect of his and Kurt's past relationship.

Blaine stands there, looking at the table they had always sat at, and the memories of that night came flooding back. Blaine could see it happening like it was a movie reel rerunning in his mind. He slowly turns around and starts heading back to the apartment, stopping at the coffee shop they used to go to, he grabbed Kurt a non-fat mocha and himself a medium drip, and then just for the hell of it he grabbed them both a cronut, remembering the addiction he had once had for them.

Walking back to the apartment, he started thinking about Sere, missing her so much, knowing besides his parents, she was the one person that he knew was always happy to see him. He missed her being with him. He was in his own world until he passes a newsstand and sees the newest Vogue magazine, and there on the cover was a picture of Bryce, with the caption "Golden Boy Not So Golden." Blaine picked up a copy, paid for it, and headed back to the apartment.

Carrying the coffee and cronut bag into the living room, Blaine sits them down on the coffee table and then sits on the couch. Opening the magazine to the first page, Blaine just stares, there, with the story he had given them, was a picture of himself and Bryce. It was a picture of them from the set of Always. Blaine, standing with his arm around Bryce, both of them looking at each other, looking so happy. He remembers when that picture had been taken. It was the day after Bryce had agreed to be his boyfriend, Blaine had been on top of the world.

Blaine hadn't thought about them including a picture of him with the story since it had been mainly about Bryce. He didn't realize that they would be doing that. He slowly read the story and noticed how well it had been written and edited. Nothing had been put in that he hadn't said himself, no words had been added. What made him smile was on the last page of the story, Kurt had been given partial credit for the interview. The next few pages were from the apartment tour, how he had found it, and why it had been left the way it was. The story talked about how Bryce had finally wanted a place that he got to set up his way, the way he wanted it to be. He had wanted to decide where the dishes would go, where he wanted everything to be. It went on to say how Bryce had wanted to be the one to pull the sales tags off of everything. To be the one to remove the plastic off of the mattresses, and pull the bedding out of their bags. It was sad in a way that he had never gotten that chance. In that moment, Blaine felt a connection with Bryce that he had never had before. He remembered when he had wanted the same thing, remembering what had caused his and Kurt's first real fight.

When he moved to California, Blaine had looked forward to buying his first apartment. He looked forward to setting it up the way he wanted it to be, putting everything where he wanted it to go. When he and Bryce had finally found their first apartment together, Bryce was already in the middle of shooting a new movie. Blaine had been the one to pack up the apartment where they had temporarily been living. He had been the one to find the one he was currently living in. They had combined their stuff, keeping some things from Blaine's apartment and some others from Bryce's.

When he and Bryce had first started dating, Blaine had commented that he liked the way Bryce's apartment looked. It hadn't really looked the way Blaine would have pictured Bryce's apartment looking, but it was nice. Bryce had looked at Blaine and smiled, saying that his manager had found the apartment for him while he was shooting a movie in Arizona. He had come back to a fully furnished and decorated apartment.

Blaine had been the one to set up their apartment while Bryce was gone. It was sad, but Bryce had always wanted to be the one to set up his own space. He had moved from his parent's house to that apartment. He was never once able to do the one thing he wanted to do so much. Blaine leaned back into the couch, put his head back, and brought his hand up to his face and broke down for the first time since Bryce's death. No Blaine hadn't loved him, and knew no matter how long that they might have been able to be together if he hadn't died, he never would have been able to love him. His heart had then and always would belong to Kurt. But Bryce had become Blaine's friend, and he had cared about him. Bryce had helped him through some bad times when they had first gotten together, and he would be lying if he said he didn't miss his friend.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" Kurt asked, walking over and sitting down beside Blaine, kissing him on his cheek.

"I knew you had a long day yesterday," Blaine said softly, trying to get his emotions under control

"Blaine, are you ok?" Kurt asked, looking at Blaine feeling concerned, and then he saw the magazine beside him.

"You didn't like it, you didn't like how we edited your interview," Kurt said, looking at Blaine. He had worked hard on the story, trying to make sure it only said what Blaine had wanted it to say, nothing more nothing less.

Blaine reached out and pulled Kurt over to him so that Kurt was sitting on his lap. "No, Kurt, it is perfect. It is an amazing write-up. Thank you for watching out for me. That's why I wanted you to be involved. I knew you would watch out for my best interest."

"Ok, if you aren't upset about the story, then why are you crying, Blaine? I don't understand," Kurt asked, looking at him.

"I guess it finally just hit me that he's really gone," Blaine said quietly, looking at Kurt.

"Oh," Kurt said, standing up and off of Blaine's lap looking shocked and hurt.

"No, sweetheart, you misunderstood. I wasn't crying because I loved him, because I didn't. I had told him upfront that my heart would always belong to you, so no, I didn't love him, but he was my friend. He helped me when we first met. The weekend of what would have been our fourth anniversary Kurt, the first one we actually spent apart, it hit me, and it hit me hard. Bryce helped me through that the next week. He helped me make it because I honestly didn't know if I would," Blaine said, walking up to Kurt, pulling him back into his arms, holding him so close.

"I guess looking at the pictures of this apartment kind of hit me," Blaine said honestly.

"I don't understand," Kurt said, looking at him.

"Do you remember when we had our first fight?" Blaine asked looking at him

Kurt's face goes blank, trying to remember. They had never really argued or fought. Even when Blaine had told him he had cheated, they had both cried and had just gone their separate ways. They didn't argue. He thought back to high school and the whole Chandler thing, they hadn't even fought then, Blaine had just been hurt. He sang his song in glee and then had just walked away. Kurt had gone to him later and apologized, realizing how bad it had looked, and realizing just how badly he had hurt Blaine. And then it hit him. He remembered their only real fight.

Blaine had been living with him for only a few weeks when Kurt came home, and Blaine had set up a study area, and for whatever reason, it had flown all over him. That Blaine was coming into his space, trying to make changes without first asking him if it was ok. Blaine had looked hurt at first, and then the more Kurt had gone on about it, the madder Blaine had gotten. They had had their first fight that had ended with Blaine walking out the door. Now, thinking about how this apartment had been left, and how the designer said that Bryce had felt, it slapped Kurt in the face. Blaine had just wanted to create his own space, a place that was just him, to put his own touch on the apartment. Kurt had been telling him since he moved in that it was their apartment, but thinking back, Kurt had never treated it as such, it was his set up, his way. Kurt and Rachel had been living like that for a year, and it had bothered him when Blaine had just decided to step in and change things. In other words, make a place that was his. He had been pulling away from Blaine even then and hadn't realized it. Picking fights for stupid reasons, Kurt was just now realizing all the things he had done that had ultimately hurt Blaine.

"I am so so sorry, Blaine. I never stopped to think about how you might have felt. I had gotten used to things being my way for once in my life. I had always lived under dad's roof, and that was my chance to have things my way. I never even thought about the fact that you might have felt the same, that I was expecting you to live in my space that was supposed to be ours" Kurt said, looking at Blaine, tears running down his face "I never really thought about how that must have made you feel, and I am so sorry. I can't believe our first fight was over something so foolish as you wanting to have just one small space in the apartment that was yours. Blaine, can you forgive me?"

"Sweetheart, you have nothing to apologize for. That's over and done. I wasn't trying to make you feel bad. I wasn't. I just wanted you to understand why I was feeling how I was feeling." Blaine said, pulling Kurt into his arms and kissing him with all the feelings he had for him, needing him so bad.

When Kurt started deepening the kiss and pulling Blaine closer to him, Blaine knew what he was wanting, and he couldn't do it. He loved Kurt and wanted him with everything he had, but he just couldn't do it. He couldn't go into that bedroom and force Kurt to do something he didn't really want to do, just to cheer him up. Blaine gently pulled away from Kurt, placing one more kiss on his lips

"It's probably cold, but I got us a coffee and cronut when I went out. Come on, let's eat, and then if you want, we go see Burt and Carol. I need to talk to him, and if it is ok, I would like to go by mom and dad's and see Sere for a few minutes. I really miss her," Blaine said, barely controlling his voice, not wanting Kurt to see he was upset.

Kurt was confused. Once again, he had tried to get close to Blaine, to reconnect with him intimately the way they still hadn't done since getting back together. When Kurt woke up this morning, he had been so hard and needed Blaine so badly. He had rolled over, reaching across the mattress for him, only to find an empty bed and cold sheets. Not saying anything, not wanting to push the issue, Kurt walked over and sat by Blaine as they drank their coffee and ate the cronut Blaine had gotten for them. Kurt having a flashback of the addiction Blaine had once had for them when he was still at NYADA.

"I would love to go see dad and Carol again. How do you think your mom and dad will react to me showing up with you?" Kurt asked, looking at him while taking a sip of his coffee.

"They'll be fine with it. I told finally told them everything, Kurt, how you had every right to break up with me, what I had done. They know we are back together." Blaine said, looking at him, wondering if he didn't want to go

"If you're sure, I would like to see them again. I'll need to go to my apartment before we go, though, so I can take a shower and change clothes," Kurt answered.

They finished their coffee and then went to Kurt's apartment. While he was showering, Blaine looked around. Walking over to the shelving unit between Kurt's curtained-off bedroom and the living room, he looked at all the pictures that now lined it. When Blaine had lived here, it had just been filled with Nic Naks. No pictures had been on there. While he is looking over the shelf, Blaine looks at Kurt's bed, well what used to be his side of Kurt's bed. There on the nightstand, where Blaine had left it, was the black and white picture of Kurt that he had left behind when he had packed up his stuff and walked out of the apartment for the last time, leaving his key on the kitchen table. Walking slowly over to it, Blaine lovingly picked up the frame. That picture had been on his nightstand from the time Kurt had given it to him, until the day after Kurt had broken up with him. That picture had meant so much to him.

"I left it there, I guess, because I kept waiting for you to come back and want it again. I also left it there to remind myself just how stupid I had been, and how much I hurt the person I loved most in the world," Kurt said walking behind Blaine with just a towel wrapped around his waist. He put his arms around Blaine's waist and laid his chin on his shoulder. Blaine slowly placed the picture frame down where it had been, before turning in Kurt's arms and pulling him closer. Blaine slowly starts kissing Kurt, needing to feel him again, needing that connection, even though he knows he won't let it go any further than a kiss.

Blaine steps out of Kurt's arms, looking at him "I booked us a flight while you were in the shower. It leaves in about an hour, so whenever you're ready, we can head out," Blaine said before placing another soft kiss on Kurt's lips and then turns to walk back into the living room, giving Kurt privacy to dress.

"Shit, " he heard Kurt whisper. Blaine hears Kurt continue to mumble as he pulls first one drawer out and then slams it back into place before opening another drawer and slamming it.

Blaine just shakes his head, walking over to the couch, sitting down and holding his head in his hands. How long is he going to be able to keep this up? Blaine needed Kurt so badly, every time he kissed Kurt or held him, it was like Kurt was setting him on fire. He couldn't stand the thought of being separated from him, but it hurt to be so close at the same time. Blaine sat like that for a few minutes, when he heard Kurt start to walk towards the living room he sits up. He didn't want Kurt to know about the personal battle he had waging inside himself, needing him so desperately, but so afraid of pushing him away.

Kurt walked over to him, stood there looking at him for a few minutes, before softly, pushing Blaine back, and then straddling his lap and sitting down. Kurt needed him, and for whatever reason, Blaine just kept pulling away from him. Leaning down, Kurt started kissing him, deepening the kiss, sliding in his tongue into Blaine's mouth, and then he slowly starts thrusting his hips forward and back, rocking into Blaine and feeling just how hard he was for him.

Before Blaine even realized what he was doing, he had pushed Kurt off of his lap and had him lying on his back on the couch, and he was on top of him with Kurt's legs wrapped around his waist grinding down, rocking his hips fast, kissing Kurt deeper than he had been allowing himself to do. Kurt moaned his name, and that is when it hits Blaine what he was doing, and abruptly stops. Blaine instead starts kissing down Kurt's neck. He had felt how much Kurt needed him, how hard he was, and refuses to leave him like that. He slowly starts unbuttoning Kurt's shirt, his lips following his hands, kissing every inch of skin that his hands expose. He gently pulled Kurt's shirt out of his waistband. Kurt leaned up enough so that Blaine could slide his shirt off of his shoulders.

Placing the shirt on the coffee table, Blaine leaned over and started running his tongue around Kurt's left nipple while he used his right thumb to rub circles around his right, causing Kurt to arch up off the couch. Blaine continued kissing down his chest, letting his tongue circle around Kurt's navel, softly sucking a mark on Kurt's stomach and then continues kissing down his abdomen following that little thin strip of hair that ran from under his belly button down past his waistband that had always driven Blaine crazy, knowing exactly where that little strip ended.

Blaine reached out, never taking his eyes off of Kurt. He slowly started unbuckling Kurt's belt, taking his time, smiling softly as he watches Kurt thrust his hips up. Once the belt was undone Blaine takes his time first unbuttoning and then unzipping Kurt's jeans, slowly easing them and his boxer briefs down his legs and then letting them drop on the table with Kurt's shirt. Blaine leans down over Kurt once again and continues to kiss down that strip of hair until he gets to the part of Kurt that needs his attention the most. Blaine sits on his heels between Kurt's legs looking down at that beautiful man, feeling himself getting harder, wanting to sink into Kurt so bad. Blaine brings up his hand and strokes Kurt for a few minutes before slowly standing up and kneeling beside the couch.

Blaine slowly leans down and runs just the tip of his tongue up Kurt's hard cock, using his left hand to pull it away from his stomach. Blaine circled the head with his tongue before kissing the tip, taking him in his mouth and then he is going down, taking all of him in his mouth, hollowing his cheeks, sucking gently as he did so, slowly Blaine moved his head up and then back down again doing the one thing for Kurt he knew he was good at. Blaine moved slow and steady at first until he felt Kurt start moving under him and whispering his name over and over. He speeds up then, sucking a little harder reaching his hand out he gently starts massaging Kurt's balls with one hand, while gently pushing the index finger of his other hand into Kurt's tight whole. Blaine's own erection, screaming for attention, but he ignores it.

Blaine continues moving his head up and down feeling as Kurt grew harder, he started moving faster until Kurt reached out and grabbed Blaine's hair warning him that he is about to come. Not pulling off, Blaine just keeps moving his head, giving Kurt all he could give him, he soon tasted as Kurt came down his throat and he swallowed every drop. Blaine places a kiss on the head of Kurt's cock before leaning over him, placing a kiss on his sweet lips. He can only smile when he sees how blown Kurt's eyes were, knowing at least in this, he could satisfy Kurt if in no other way.

"Blaine, I had forgotten just how good you were at that," Kurt sighs, his head back looking at Blaine, looking so satisfied.

"That's good to hear," Blaine said with a small smile "Come on sweetheart, let's get you redressed, and then it's time for us to head out" Blaine whispered standing up, reaching down to help Kurt sit up, smiling when he hears Kurt complain about jelly legs.

"Don't we have time for me to return the favor?" Kurt asks, walking over to Blaine after rearranging his clothes, wrapping his arms around Blaine's neck, and kissing him. So relaxed now. He had needed that so much more than he thought. It had been almost a year since the last time he had been with Blaine, and Blaine was still the only person he had ever been with.

"No, but you can take care of me next time," Blaine said with a smile, knowing that that wasn't going to happen. When he got to the airport, if he needed to, he would just go to the restroom and take care of himself there. At least he knew Kurt was satisfied.

Blaine leaned in and kissed Kurt one more time before reaching out for his hand and walking with him to the subway station. When they walked out of the exit, they were able to catch a cab to take them to the airport. Blaine spent the 20 minutes they had to wait for their flight snuggled up with Kurt, just holding him.

When they land in Ohio, Blaine grabs them another taxi, gives the driver his parent's address in Westerville, and sits back, holding Kurt's hand. Even though being gay was more accepted now, Blaine was still hesitant to do more than hold hands, not wanting to push the issue, or get something started. They had both had issues here, best just to be careful.

When the driver pulled up outside his parent's house, Blaine grabs Kurt's hand and walks with him towards the front door. Before they even get there, the door is opened by his mom holding Sere. When she saw her daddy, she started trying to get to him. With a big smile on his face Blaine reaches out and takes her from his mom, holding her close, placing little kisses on her face.

"How is my baby doing today?" Blaine asks her, pulling back so he could look at her with a smile on his face. She just started babbling. What she was saying he had no idea, but he could tell by the concentration on her face she meant every word of it. The only thing he understood was "dada," which had him brimming with pride.

"Is all that true little girl, you've done all that already. I thought you promised not to do anything extraordinary while I was gone," Blaine said with a grin kissing her one more time, so very glad to have her back in his arms. Looking up at his mom, he sees her looking at Kurt for the first time

Pam walks up to Kurt and looks at him for a minute and then pulls him into a hug. She had always liked Kurt when he and Blaine had been together, but when he had hurt Blaine, that had changed her mind about him. When Blaine explained what he had done, how he had cheated, she then understood why Kurt had done what he did. No, Michael hadn't technically cheated on her, they had been separated when he met Shey's mom, but it still hurt. She knew that if he had done to her what Blaine had done to Kurt, she might not have been so quick to forgive. Son or not.

"Welcome back to our home Kurt, we have missed you," She said before turning around and walking with the three of them into the house.

"Blaine, your daddy is in the den and wants to talk to you," she said with a grin. That interview he had done had shocked them both.

Walking into the den, Blaine saw his dad stand up from his desk, a big smile on his face walking towards him. "Damn, son. I know I told you to let it all out, but…," Michael said, laughing, pulling Blaine into a hug, slapping him on the back, being careful not to squeeze his granddaughter.

"Glad you approve," Blaine just grinned.

"How was New York? I saw the pictures, and that apartment looks amazing," Pam asked, motioning for everyone to sit down.

"Mom, it's, and to be honest, I've decided to move there. I am going to sell the apartment in California. I like the idea of living closer to you guys, and I want away from California. I had already decided I wanted to move before going to New York. I just can't live there anymore. Seeing that apartment just made my decision an easier one. I am so tired of looking over my shoulder and being followed everywhere I go. I want somewhere safer for Sere." Blaine answered

"Are you sure, son? When you moved away from New York, you said you would never go back, that there was nothing there for you anymore, once you left NYADA," Pam asked, concerned for her son. Yes, she understood the first breakup, but couldn't understand why Kurt broke Blaine's heart the second time. She had never seen someone look so utterly devastated in her life, and to see that look on her son, hurt more than she ever thought possible, knowing there wasn't anything she could do to make it better.

Blaine looked over at Kurt and then over at his mom. "I'm sure. I know this is the right thing for Sere and me. I think getting away from that whole lifestyle will be the very best thing for both of us. We both need a change," and Blaine believed that one hundred percent. They had been through things, but he felt that he and Kurt were in a better place this time than they were before. Well, almost…

"Has there been any blowback yet from the interview?" Blaine asked, looking over at his dad, after reading it this morning, he wondered if he might have made things worse, taken it too far. But he knew he had to tell his side of things, to get his side out there before the Mitchell's told theirs. Blaine knew he had the truth on his side, but still.

"No blowback, but a few things are going on that I need to talk to you about," Michael said, looking at him.

"Do I need to leave?" Kurt asked, starting to stand up.

"No, Kurt, I have no secrets from you. Whatever needs to be said can be said in front of you," Blaine said, reaching out and putting his hand on Kurt's knee, keeping him from standing up.

"Ok, first the Mitchell's lawyer called me, they asked for another week to get everything packed and moved out of the house. They said you didn't give them enough time. I wanted to tell them they were out of luck, but I agreed to another week. I told them at that point, they would be expected to be out. I informed them that you would be coming by to check on the house, and anything that had been left behind would be tossed. I don't know if they think they can keep stretching this out until it's time to go to court or what, but I gave them one more week," Michael said looking at Blaine

"I don't want to give them a second, but I agree with you. What else" Blaine asked his dad, he just knew that wasn't everything.

"I know you said you were ready to move out of California, away from everything there, but I was talking with Bryce's lawyer. He feels that it would be best if you stayed until after all the court business is settled. I understand that you want to leave son I do, but it would be better if you stayed for a while longer," Michael said, looking at his son seeing the look of disappointment on his face.

"Dad, seriously?" Blaine said, looking at his dad. He couldn't stand the idea of staying in that apartment another night. He was ready to move on with his life. Put the past behind him.

"Blaine, son, I know how much you want out of there I do, but we have to be smart right now. You still need to be a California resident until after everything is settled." Michael said, trying to explain.

"How long?" Blaine asked, shaking his head, bouncing Sere when she started fussing. He didn't know if she was feeling the change in his mood or what.

"Just till after we get everything settled. I have requested a court date, but it looks like the earliest possible one is in two months" he answered

"Two months, dad, I have to put my life on hold for two more months. I just don't understand. I just want this all to be over. If it weren't for losing Sere, I would tell you to drop it and let the Mitchell's have everything. I can't believe that Bryce is still screwing me over from the grave," Blaine said, standing up and starting to walk, trying to soothe a now crying Sere. "Shh sweet girl, it's ok, I'm sorry daddy upset you, it's ok," he said, rubbing his hand across her back soothingly.

"Blaine, son, you just have to be officially living there. That doesn't mean that you have to stay there. You just need to make sure you are spending at least one night a week in California. The rest of the time, you can stay in New York or here, or wherever you want," Michael said, watching his son as he soothed his little girl. Michael was so proud of the man Blaine had become, and the father he was. He hated that they had to do this, but hoped they could get everything settled quickly. He knew Blaine had to feel like a dark cloud was hanging over him.

When Sere finally calmed back down, Blaine went back over and sat down with Kurt. "What else?" he asked because he knew that wasn't the end of things.

"Ok, I told you I have been working with Bryce's lawyer, he is going to step in and help us. My license doesn't allow me to practice law in California. Their legal system is so much different from anywhere else, and it would take too long to get my license to practice there. John will be stepping in as your lawyer for all court proceedings," Michael told him.

"Dad, I don't know if I like that idea. I trust you to have my back, can we really trust him?" Blaine asks.

"Son, I think this will be our best bet. I was going to need to find you a new lawyer anyway. This way, I can be second chair. I'll be there watching your back, but he will be your actual lawyer, and to answer your question, yes, I think we can trust him. He has given me a lot of information he didn't have to. I think this will be the best thing to do, but son, it is your decision. This is your life."

"Dad, I trust you, if you feel this will be the best way to go, then that is what we'll do. So, I can still live basically in New York? I'd just need to leave my permanent address in California for right now, correct?" Blaine said, asking his dad. Maybe that won't be so bad after all. He needed to get everything in the apartment packed up and arrange for a mover to move everything he decides to take with him anyway.

"Will any of this stop me from checking out the London apartment? I want to get that all settled and have one less thing to worry about," Blaine said, already tired.

"No, that won't be a problem at all. Speaking of London, I was able to get with Shey's lawyer, and he thinks he might have someone already lined up to buy her apartment, especially if you agree to sell it furnished." Michael answered.

"That won't be a problem that will actually help. I can just concentrate on getting her stuff packed up and not worry about getting rid of furniture." Blaine answered.

"Sounds good, do you know when you plan on getting that settled?" Michael asked.

"Well, Kurt's dad wants us to come to Friday dinner tonight, so if Kurt and I can get everything packed and ready, maybe Sunday, if he is willing to go with me, we can plan on flying out then. I want to get this done as soon as possible. Kurt's boss has given him a month off to help me do this, so the sooner we can get it done the better," Blaine answered

"Do you want me to keep Sere for you?" Pam asked, and Blaine could tell she was hoping he would say yes, but he wanted the baby with him.

"Not this time, mom. I'm going to take her with me. I was thinking about taking a few pictures of her at the apartment. That way, when she gets older, she'll have a reminder of her mother, and to be honest, I am not ready to let her go again so soon. I know I'll need to leave her with you when we go to check on Paris, but I think it will be ok to take her to London," Blaine said, looking at her, seeing the disappointment on her face. Pam had quickly become attached to Sere, and that couldn't make Blaine any happier.

"Ok, well if you change your mind, I'll be happy to keep her for you," Pam said with a smile

"I know mom, and I really appreciate it, but with everything going on, I just want her with me as much as possible. Plus, she is changing so fast. I don't want to miss anything," Blaine said, looking down at his daughter. He never thought he could love someone as much as he loved her. She made everything he had had to go through worth it. He almost hated Bryce but had to thank him for bringing this child into his life.

They continued to talk, and discuss the court case, ate lunch, and just enjoyed spending time together as a family. Blaine was happy that they included Kurt in everything. They had always liked him when they were dating. Yes, they hadn't been happy with Kurt after the first break up, but after explaining to them what he had done, they finally understood, Blaine was just glad they seemed to be putting the second breakup behind them as well.

Before they realized it, it was time to head to Lima. Blaine took Sere into her room and changed her clothes. He was starting to feel nervous. This was going to be the first time he would see Burt and Carol since he moved to California. He didn't know how much Kurt had told them about what happened. Blaine had always loved Burt, he had been like a second father to him, especially during the time he was having problems with his own dad. But one thing Blaine knew, well used to know anyway before their last break, Burt always thought that he and Kurt should be together, even after Blaine had cheated. Blaine had sat down and talked to Burt, he didn't really tell him why he cheated, but that he did. Burt thought that was the sign of a true man, taking responsibility for his actions, and he had forgiven him. Burt had actually pushed for them to get back together.

Blaine had to laugh thinking about Christmas before last when Burt had shown up at McKinley and convinced him to go to New York and surprise Kurt. He hadn't really known how Kurt would react. They had just started talking again over Thanksgiving, trying to reconnect, be friends again at least, but it had turned out perfect. They had had their annual Christmas duet while skating at Bryant Park. That was still one of Blaine's happiest memories. Kurt had been more relaxed than he had been in a long time, and Blaine was with the love of his life, his life couldn't have been more perfect. They had finished skating, drank hot chocolate, and just enjoyed being together again. On the way back to Kurt's they had shared several sweet kisses that had Blaine hoping that they were heading for a reconciliation, it took a while, but they got there.

"Ok, baby girl, I am going to be taking you to meet two very important people in daddy's life. Be prepared for a lot of hugs and kisses," Blaine said, laughing. He could already see Burt and Carol.

"And you need to be prepared to lose your daughter because I don't see Carol letting her go," Kurt said with a smile on his face leaning against the door frame of Sere's room. Kurt loved watching Blaine with her. He was so confident. There was absolutely no hesitation at all. He seemed like he had been a father for years instead of just a few months.

Kurt walked up to Blaine and wrapped his arms around him and placed a soft kiss on his lips, which Blaine happily returned. He was so glad to have this man back in his life, back in his arms where he was always meant to be.

"You ready?" Blaine asked, kissing him one more time, before picking up Sere, and then reaching down and taking Kurt's hand.

"Yes, yes, I am," Kurt answered, meaning yes, he was ready to go, but also ready for so much more. He was ready to move on with their lives together. He knows it will be a slow go now that Blaine has a daughter, but oh so worth it.

"Let's go," Blaine said with a smile, walking with his family out the door.